Filling-tube for liquids.



A. SCHNEIDER. FILLING TUBE FOB LIQUIDS. APPLIoATIoN FILED un. 2s, 1907.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

w J E w. i 2 7 if L 5% @gama KW www.. Mln 4l Kw \\\uH |U| ill.. n/N M .n /HH /l Tl, m j /l/f/.l I

un: Nakkls PETERS cv.. wAsmNcroN. n. c.

ADOLPH SCHNEIDER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FILLING-TUBE FOR LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17', 1908.

Application filed April 23, 1907. Serial No. 369,833.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, ADoLPi-r SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Filling-Tubes for Liquids, of which the following is a specification.

It is desirable and necessary, in the bottling or packaging of liquids, and particularly with liquids containing carbonio acid gas under pressure, that the pressure between the tank containing the liquid and the to-be filled bottle or package should be equalized, in order to prevent foaming of the liquid in filling the bottle or package. The equalizing of the pressure requires a perfect seal for the mouth of the bottle or package in combination with conducting means for carrying the pressure back and forth between the tank and the to-be filled bottle or package, so that pressure from the tank can enter the bottle or package for equalizing purposes, and pressure from the bottle or package, in filling the liquid thereinto, can escape back into the tank.

The object of the present invention is to construct a filling tube, by the use of which a perfect and complete seal will be obtained for the mouth of the bottle or package, and at the same time free communication will be furnished between the filling tank and the bottle or package, for equalizing the pressure and for returning the pressure from the bottle or package back to the filling tank, and

so as to prevent foaming of the liquid when discharged into the bottle or package; to construct a filling tube for liquid having a fixed tube for supplying liquid to the bottle or package, and surrounding a slidable tube carrying the sealing head foil closing thc mouth of the bottle or package; to construct a filling tube for liquid having a fixed liquid supply tube, with a Siphon action, for withdrawing liquid from the tank and discharging `liquid into the bottle or package, and combined with a slidable tube encircling the liquid tube, and carrying a sealing head for the mouth of the bottle or package, with the liquid supply tube encircled by a tube furnishing, with the slidable tube, a passage for conducting pressure between the filling tank and the bottle or package; to construct a filling tube for liquids having a fixed liquid supply tube, with a port at its discharge end, controlled by a weight valve and combining the fixed liquid supply tube with a slidable tube carrying the sealing head and operated in one direction by entering the bottle or package into the sealing head; and operated in the opposite direction by pressure acting against the end of the slidable tube; to furnish a lling tube for liquids, consisting of a fixed liquid supply tube, a fixed central tube encircling the liquid supply tube, and furnishing a passage for conducting pressure from and to the filling tank, a supporting tube encircling the fixed supply tube and the fixed central tube, and furnishing a chamber for pressure in communication with the interior of the filling tank, and a slidable tube carrying the sealing head, with a piston on its upper end operative in the chamber of the fixed outer casing; to furnish an automatic cut oftl to prevent the escape of pressure, when the sealing head is at rest and in normal position; to furnish an automatic control for the pressure in equalizing the pressure between the filling tank and the to-be filled bottle or package by which, with the inserting and raising of a bottle or package, the pressure passage will be opened, admitting pressure to the to-be filled bottle or package; and to improve generally the construction, arrangement and operation of the several parts or elements entering into the formation of the filling tube as a whole.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the filling tube of the invention, with the sealing head, the slidable tube therefor, and the guide and supporting tubes in full section, and with the liquid supply tube partly in section and partly in full elevation, and showing the sealing head in its normal or at rest position; Fig. 2 a similar view to Fig. l, showing, however, the sealing head and the slidable tube therefor partly raised or elevated, for opening the passage to admit pressure to the bottle, shown by dotted lines, with the liquid tube closed against the discharge of liquid; and Fig. 3 a similar view to Fig. l, with the sealing head and the slidable tube therefor fully raised or elevated, and with the liquid tube entered into the bottle, shown by dotted lines, so as to open the valve at the lower end of the liquid tube, for discharging liquid into the bottle.

Y to flow through the The construction shown has a supply tube 1 for the liquid, which tube, at its upper end, is in communication with a tube 2, having a curved neck 3 and constituting a siphon tube, for withdrawing liquid from the filling tank and supplying the withdrawn liquid to the liquid supply tube 1 proper, through a chamber or passage t, formed in a head or plug 5, and into which hole or passage l the ends of the tubes 1 and 2 are threaded or otherwise secured. The plug or head 5 is entered into the upper end 0i' the supporting tube 6, the lower end of which has entered thereonto a coupling cap 7, formed of a circular wall and an end wall, with a central hole through the end wall. The construction shown has a guide tube 8, between which and the supporting tube 6 is a pressure chamber or passage 9; and the guide tube 8, at its upper end, is secured to the head or plug 5 in any suitable manner. The plug 5 has a port or passage 10, furnishing communication between the interior of the filling tank and the chamber 9, for admitting pressure from the tank into the chamber, and discharging pressure from the chamber into the tank, in the operation of the slidable tube carrying the sealing head. The guide tube 8 encircles the liquid supply tube 1 within the outer tube or casing 6, so as to furnish a passage 11 between the liquid supply tube and the guide tube 8, which passage is in communication with a lateral port 12, opening through the head or plug 5 and the wall of the outer casing or tube 6, so as to have full communication with the interior of the filling tank above the liquid, for pressure from the filling tank port 12 into the passage 11, for supplying pressure to and withdrawing pressure from the to-be filled bottle or package; and the port or passage 10 also opens into the filling tank above the liquid in the tank.

The outer supporting tube or casing 6 receives into its interior, above the coupling cap, 7, a head 13, with a packing ring 14 on its face, the head and packing' ring constituting a piston for a slidable tube 15, the body of which is free to slide through the central ceives into its interior, above the coupling cap cap, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. wise slidable tube 15 encircles the liquid supply tube 1, so as to form a passage 16, between the liquid supply tube and the endwise slidable tube, which passage is in communication with the pressure conducting passage 11, for supplying pressure to the slidable tube 15 around the liquid supply tube. The construction shown has the lower end of the central tube 8 entered into the bore or passage of the endwise slidable tube 15, so that the endwise slidable tube is guided and directed, in its reciprocating movements, by the inner central guide tube and the outer The endl tube or casing and the piston on the end of the endwise slidable tube. The lower end of the endwise slidable tube 15 has threaded thereonto, or otherwise secured thereto, a head 17 onto which is threaded, or otherwise secured, an annular wall 18, having, at its end, an inwardly extending flange 19, with a curved inner face 20, forming a guide for directing and centering the mouth end of the bottle into sealing position, the curved face 20 forming an opening 21 suitable for the purpose. A sealing gasket or cushion has its body 22 entered into a chamber or recess, formed between the outer face of the flange 19 and the end face of the head 17, and the inner face of the annular wall 18; and the inner face of the body, at the center, is curved so as to form a curved face 23 coacting with the curved face 20, and forming a chamber 24, into which the mouth end of the bottle or package is entered, so as to tightly seal and close the end of the bottle around the exterior edge thereof', as shown by the dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. The sealing head gasket or cushion, has a neck entered into a chamber or recess 26 in the end of the head17, and encircling the discharge tube 27, at the end of the liquid supply tube, so as to prevent liquid and pressure from escaping around the liquid supply tube, when the parts of the filling tube, as a whole, are in normal position, or at rest, as shown in Fig. 1. The discharge tube 27, for the liquid, is threaded, or otherwise attached, to the main liquid supply tube 1, in the construction shown, and this tube is of greater exterior diameter than the exterior diameter of the main liquid supply tube, so as to leave a less space or passage 28, between it and the endwise slidable tube 15, than the passage or space 16, between the endwise slidable tube 15 and the main liquid supply tube 1, when the parts are in normal position, or at rest, as shown in Fig. l; and the vspace or passage 28 terminates against the shoulder or abutment of the head 17, when the parts are as shown in Fig. 1, sealing the pressure passage against the escape of pressure at the sealing head- The discharge end of the tube 27 has a port 29, with a surrounding valve seat 30, with which a valve 31 on a stem 32, coacts to close the port against the discharge of liquid, when the filling tube, as a whole, is in the position shown in Fig. 1, or at rest. The valve is raised to open the port 29 by the engagement of the valve stem 32, with the bottom of the bottle or package, as shown in Fig. 3, permitting liquid to flow through the liquid supply tube and discharge into the bottle or package at the port 29 of the liquid supply tube. The valve 31 is closed, and held closed, by a weight 33, extending upwardly within the interior of the discharge section 27 of the liquid supply tube, which weight is of a less diameter in cross section than the interior diameter of the section 27 of the liquid supply tube, so as to leave a space or passage 3a around the weight, for the outflow of the liquid to discharge into the bottle or package.

The construction shown has, around the exterior of the outer casing or tube 6, a flange 35, on a sleeve 3G, which sleeve is screw threaded and receives a ring nut 37, by means of which the filling tube, as a whole, is attached in position to the bottom wall 3S, of a filling tank, the bottom wall having a suitable hole for the passage of the sleeve 36 to project below the under side of the wall ,for the reception of the ring nut, so that the ring nut will act and clamp and hold the filling tribe, as a whole, in position between the flange 35 and the ring nut 37, fiXedly mounting the outer casing or wall and the liquid supply tube in position on the filling tank, with the siphon tube within the fillingtank, and also the upper portion of the supporting tube or casing and the filling tube proper. The filling tank is not shown, but can be of any usual and well known form of pressure tanks, for containing liquid under pressure for filling bottles or packaO'es.

bThe endwise slidable tube is upwardly moved by the insertion of the bottle or package, and the bringing of the bottle or package into filling position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3; and the endwise slidable tube 15, with the sealing head, is returned to normal position, ork state of rest, by pressure within the chamber 9, exerted against the piston on the upper end of the endwise slidable tube, which pressure enters the chamber from the lilling tank, and this pressure against the piston of the endwise slidable tube must be sufficient to hold the sealing gasket or cushion tightly against the end of the bottle or package, and so as to furnish a perfect closure against the escape of pressure and liquid, and this both, when the tube is elevated, either to its position for communication to supply pressure between the filling tank and the to-be filled bottle or package, or to the terminus of its full elevation, for discharging liquid into the bottle.

The operation will be understood from the foregoing description, but briefly is as follows: The filling tube, as a whole, is in normal position when the parts are as shown in Fig. 1, and in this position the valve, at the discharge end of the liquid supply tube, is closed and held closed, by the weight extending up therefrom within the discharge end of the filling tube; and the escape of pressure at the sealing head is prevented from the closing of the passage 28, by the cross wall or shoulder' of the head 17 and the wall of the discharge section of the liquid supply tube, as shown in Fig. 1. A bottle, or

other package of similar nature, has its neck, or mouth end, entered into the chamber or space formed by the interior faces of the annular wall 1S and the sealing gasket or cushion, and the raising of the bottle into a filling position carries with it the sealing head and the endwise slidable tube, and when the sealing head and the endwise slidable tube are raised, by the bottle, into the position shown in Fig. 2, the upper end of the lower or discharge section 27 of the liquid supply tube is passed by the lower end of the sealing gasket or cushion, so as to bring the space or passage 1G into comn'muication with the passage at the end or neck of the bottle and between the inner face of the sealing gasket or cushion and the inner' face of the end or neck of the bottle, allowing pressure to flow through the port or passage 12 into the space or passage 11, to enter the space or passage 1G, and discharge into the interior of the bottle or package, equalizing the pressure between the interior of the filling tank and the bottle or package. The bottle or package, after the equalization of pressure between the filling tank and the bottle or package has been established, is raised to a higher plane, carrying with it the sealing head and the endwise slidable tube into the position shown in Fig. 3, in which position the end of the stem 32 strikes the inner face of the bottom of the bott-le or package and raises the valve 31 from the seat 30, so as to open the discharge port 29 for liquid to flow through the siphon tube 2 and main supply liquid tube 1, into the discharge section or end 2T of the liquid supply tube, and enter the bottle through the port 29, gradually filling the bottle with liquid against an equalized pressure by which foaming is prevented. rlhe pressure in the bottle is forced out therefrom by the gradual rise of the liquid in the bottle, and this pressure returns to the tank through the space or passage 16, and space or passage 11, and port 12, so that the spaces or passages and the port serve both as a means for inducting pressure from the tank into the bottle and educting pressure from the bottle back into the tank. The pressure against the face of the piston of the endwise slidable tube is sufficient to hold and maintain the sealing l gasket or cushion tightly against the end of the bottle or package, so as to prevent the escape of the pressure and the liquid around the end of the bottle or package, and in addition, the force of the pressure within the chamber 9, against the face of the piston, will serve to return the endwise slidable tube and the sealing head to their normal position or state of rest, as shown in` Fig. 1, from the elevated position shown in Fig. 3.

The filling tube, as a whole, of the present invention, is simple in construction, and can be operated easily and quickly, in equalizing the pressure between the filling tank and the to-be filled bottle or package; and to enable liquid under pressure to be discharged against an equalizing pressure, thereby preventing foaming of the liquid. The act of' entering and raising the bottle to a filling position, will first open the pressure passage, for conducting pressure to the to-be filled package or bottle from the filling tank in order to equalize the pressure between the tank and the to-be filled bottle or package; and then,when the final elevated position has been reached, the liquid supply tube will be opened to discharge liquid into the bottle or package against an equalized pressure. It will thus be seen that an equalization of pressure is insured before the liquid can possibly discharge into the bottle or package, which is very desirable in filling bottles or packages with carbonated liquid.

The filling tube of the present invention is specially adapted for use with bottles of varying heights, as, irrespective of the height of the bottle, the initial entering of the neck of a bottle or package into the sealing gasket and slightly raising the sealing head at once opens the passages for equalizing pressure between the filling tank and the bottle or package, and the further upward movement of the sealing head can be continued without destroying the open passageway for pressure between the filling tank and the bottle or package, thus enabling a long or short bottle to be placed in position and the filling of the bottle to be attained, by the opening of the discharge port for the filling tube by the engagement of the stem of the valve of the filling tube with the face of the bottom of the bottle. The weighted valve, for controlling the discharge port of the liquid supply tube, can be used either with a xed tube or a movable tube, as the opening of the valve depends on the contact of the valve stem with the bottom of the bottle or package, and such contact can be made with a fixed liquid supply tube by raising the bottle or package, or with a movable liquid supply tube, by advancing the tube into the interior of the bottle.

Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a filling tube for liquids, the combination of a fixed vertical liquid supply tube, a fixed vertical tube surrounding the liquid supply tube and forming with the liquid supply tube a conducting passage for pressure around the liquid supply tube, an endwise slidable tube encircling the liquid supply tube and vertically slidable on the fixed vertical tube, and forming, with the liquid supply tube, a continuation of the conducting passage for pressure, a head carried by the endwise slidable tube, a sealing gasket for the head, with a conducting passage for pressure between the head, the sealing gasket and the liquid supply tube, opened when the head and gasket are vertically elevated, substantially as described.

2. In a filling tube for liquids, the combination of a fixed vertical liquid supply tube, a siphon tube in communication with the fixed vertical supply tube, a fixed vertical tube surrounding the liquid supply tube and forming with the liquid supply tube a conducting passage for pressure around the liquid supply tube, an endwise slidable tube encircling the liquid supply tube and vertically slidable in the fixed vertical tube, and forming, with the liquid supply tube, a continuation of the conducting A passage for pressure, a head carried by the endwise slidable tube, a sealing gasket for the head, with a conducting passage for pressure between the head, the sealing gasket and the liquid supply tube, opened when the head and gasket are vertically elevated, substantially as described.

In a filling tube for liquids, the combination of a fixed vertical liquid supply tube, a fixed vertical tube surrounding the fixed vertical liquid supply tube and forming a conducting passage for pressure around the liquid supply tube, a fixed vertical outer casing surrounding the two tubes and forming a chamber for pressure within the casing, an endwise slidable tube surrounding the fixed liquid supply tube, with a conducting passage for pressure between the two tubes, a piston at the upper end of the endwise slidable tube and operative in the pressure chamber of the outer casing, a head at the lower end of the endwise slidable tube, a sealing gasket for the head, with a conducting passage for pressure between the head, the sealing gasket and the liquid supply tube opened when the head and gasket are partially elevated, substantially as described.

4. In a filling tube for liquids, the combination of a fixed vertical liquid supply tube, a fixed vertical tube surrounding the fixed vertical liquid supply tube and forming a conducting passage for pressure around the liquid supply tube, a fixed vertical outer casing surrounding the two tubes and forming a chamber' for pressure within the casing, an endwise slidable tube surrounding the fixed liquid supply tube, 'with a conducting passage for pressure between the two tubes, a piston at the upper end of the endwise slidable tube and operative in the pressure chamber of the outer casing, a head at the lower end of the endwise slidable tube, a sealing gasket for the head, with a conducting passage for pressure between the head, the sealing gasket and the liquid supply tube, opened when the head and gasket are partially elevated, a plug closing the upper end of the outer' casing and carrying the fixed liquid supply tube and its encircling tube, and having a lateral port through the plug and outer casing furnishing communication between the filling tank and the pressure conducting passage around the liquid supply tube, substantially as described.

5. In a filling tube for liquids, the combination of a fixed Avertical liquid supply tube, a fixed vertical tube surrounding the fixed vertical liquid supply tube and f'ormingaconducting passage for pressure around the liquid supply tube, a fixed vertical outer casing surrounding the two tubes and forming a chamber for pressure within the casing,` an endwise slidable tube surrounding the fixed liquid supply tube, with a conducting .passage for pressure between the two tubes, a piston at the upper end of the endwise slidable tube and operative in the pressure chamber of the outer casing, a head at the lower end of the endwise slidable tube, a sealing gasket for the head with a conducting passage for pressure between the head, the sealing gasket and the liquid sup ply tube, opened when the head and gasket are partially elevated, a plug closing the upper end of' the outer casing and carrying the fixed liquid supply tube and its encircling tube, and having a lateral port through the plug and outer casing furnishing communication between the filling tank and the pressure conducting passage around the liquid supply tube, and a passage in the plug furnishing communication between the filling tank and the pressure chamber of' the outer casing, for admitting pressure to and discharging pressure from the chamber of' the outer casing, substantially as described,

6. Ina filling tube for liquids, the combination of a fixed vertical liquid supply tube, a fixed vertical tube surrounding the liquid supply tube, an outer casing surrounding the two tubes, an endwise slidable tube having,` at its upper end, a piston operative in the outer casing, a closing plug for the upper end of the outer casing, the fixed vertical liquid supply tube and the encircling fixed vertical tube forming a pressure passage, the outer lcasing forming a pressure chamber, the endwise slidable tube, with the liquid supply tube forming a pressure passage, and the plug having a lateral passage and a longitudinal passage, for admitting pressure respectively to the conducting passage for pressure around the liquid supply tube and to the pressure chamber of the outer casino', substantially as described.

7. In a filling tube for liquids, the combination of a fixed vertical liquid supply tube, a fixed vertical tube surrounding the liquidv supply tube, an outer casing surrounding the two tubes, an endwise slidable tube having, at its upper end, a piston operative in the outer casing, a closing plug for the upper end of the outer casing, the fixed vertical liquid supply tube and the encircling fixed vertical tube forming a pressure passage, the outer casing forming a pressure chamber, the endwise slidable tube, with the liquid supply tube, forming a pressure passage, and the plug having a lateral passage and a longitudinal passage, for admitting pressure respectively to the conducting passage for pressure around the liquid supply tube and to the pressure chamber of the outer casing, a sealing head on the lower end of the endwise slidable tube, and a sealing gasket carried by the head, substantially as described.

8. In a filling tube for liquids, the combination of a rigid and fixed vertical tube, a rigid and endwise slidable tube movable in the fixed vertical tube, a rigid and fixed vertical liquid supply tube extending through the fixed vertical tube and the endwise slidable tube, and furnishing, in connection with the fixed vertical and the endwise slidable tubes, a pressure conducting passage around the exterior of the liquid supply tube, a sealing head into which the lower end of the endwise slidable tube is xedly entered and through which the discharge end of' the liquid supply tube passes and by which the pressure conducting passage at the lower end of the endwise slidable tube is closed with the sealing head in normal position, and opened with the sealing head in raised position, substantially as described.

9. In a filling tube for liquids, the combination of a rigid and fixed vertical liquid supply tube having an enlarged and elon gated discharged end, a rigid endwise slidable tube normally encircling the lower part of the body of the fixed vertical supply tube and its discharge end and forming with the inclosed portion of the liquid supply tube and its discharge end, a pressure conducting passage around the exterior of the liquid supply tube and its discharge end, said passage of a less width around the enlarged discharge end of the liquid supply tube than around the main body of the liquid tube, a sealing head carried by the lower end of the endwise movable tube and into and through which the enlarged discharge end of the liquid supply tube enters and passes, for the sealing head when in normal position to bear on and impinge the exterior wall of the discharge end of the filling tube at its lower extremity and close the pressure conducting passage, and for the sealing head when raised above the upper terminal of the discharge end of the liquid supply tube to open communication through the sealingr head for inducting and educting pressure, substantially as described.

ADOLPI-I SCHNEIDER.

fitnesses OSCAR 7. BOND, VALKER BANNING. 

